The following is an article “Business English: From Skill Set To Necessity” by Marc Primo.
Saying that English is an important skill set is an understatement. However, knowing that Business English is a necessity in today’s global economic spectrum is true power.
Today’s economic scenario paints a rapidly changing arena where companies with a versatile workforce that is capable of taking a role in business discussions takes home the most bacon. The advent of technology has encouraged companies to operate across borders and getting the message out to the proper segments means having to speak their business language.
Teerachart ‘Max’ Kortrakul was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand. Naturally, English was not Max’s mother tongue. But he recognized the importance and advantages of learning the business aspect of the language early on especially on that fateful day when he came up with a novel idea for an app called StackRadars. He wanted to let stock investors know that the heart of the project was anchored on how he spent time, energy, and dedication to create the app, rather than present flashy projection results and razzle dazzle statistics. Max was able to get his message across by believing that Business English is what truly connects people. Now Max serves as the CEO of one of the most well-funded and multi-awarded tech startups in Southeast Asia with over 680,000 users this year.
Max’s story proves that knowledge and experience are not the only intangible essentials you’d want in the people you hire to run your machine. Decision makers must also acknowledge that reaching the top and remaining there means training their employees and letting them master efficient communication strategies for the target market, whether locally or internationally.
Today, Business English is the glue that holds global companies together or simply put, the English language in business today is what Latin was to the rise of the Roman Empire.
Current numbers tell us that 25% of the world speaks the language and that it is the most preferred mode of communication in business. As how more and more people are learning English today, small companies should also acquire the right advantage to touch base with their intended receivers. Business English teaches a company’s employees to work more efficiently no matter what industry they are in because it gives them the confidence to transact professionally, and communicate with clients who are both based at home and overseas.
As most scholarly references, news, and business journals are written in English, employees who are versed in the language can easily understand corporate vocabulary, trends, and the global economy in general. This empowers them to think more dynamically and be in the loop on what’s happening across the industry; comprehend and send professional emails; speak coherently behind the computer, over the phone, or face-to-face; and most importantly, present updates and relay developments to the management or clients more effectively.
Bottom line is that teaching yourself and your employees proper Business English gives you great leverage in getting your company into the realm of the heavyweights. Disregarding it as a skill set and business tool, may even render your company stagnant uncompetitive, or worse, unproductive.